The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-11
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POLICE OF BERLIN.
How the German Capital is Guarded Against
Lawbreakers.


From the London Teles raph.
Baron Won Richtoffen, president Of thc Der.
lin police, combines in his person the duties
which in London are divided between the chieK
commissioner Of police and the board OF works.,
lie not only looks after the safety and health
OF the public, bat has under his surveillance
the streets, markets and buildings.
III relation to the Berlin municipality, which
by its excellent financial management, has
shown itself worthy of the considerable admin
! istratiye economy which itenjoys, the presidens
of police exercises certain rights Of control. He
| represents the state in its relations with the
people IN the first instance and Is the organ OF
| the executive power.
police expenditure, paying for the uniforms OF
the sehutzleute and providing the building
~ TIE LIS yeEek Gre stations
That of the fire brigade comes soAt of the mU
nicipal funds aftf6ngl the firemen, like the
schut1leute, are under the orders of the presi-
dent of police.
The policemen arc only employed during tho
daytime. At night the capital Is confided to
the care Of watchmen who wear distinctive
uniform, and are provided with n whistle and
a saber These men arc on duty from 10
o'clock at night ill . ORG O'Clock the next
morning, the final hour varying according to
the season Of tho year. They number co.,
The effective strength of tho police is $500, OF
which number about fifty are mounted.
All the policemen are old subordinate offs
cefS ol me army, ana are or ~ certain standard
height They must have passed nine years in
the army, and employment Is given only to
those who have distinguished themselves by
good conduct zeal and assduity. They are re-
spected by and live ON good terms with tho
civil population, although their manner occas
Sionally betrays their military training and 10
not exempt from bTusqueness.
The Berliner submits by force Of habit 10 the
injunctions OF the policeman, and on military
parade days ono constable is sufficient to keep
large number Of speetators in order
The morale OF the corpse is good because
the mon know that they are supported by both
the public and the superior authority. The
latter Furnishes all faults and negigences on
the part of the force, and protects it when it IN
in the right.
In addition TO this outdoor police, which
sees to the execution OF laws and regulations
and maintain order in the streets, there is @
police Of safety, whose mission is to discover
authors Of crimes and demeanors and to
keep strict watch over the dangerous classes
so as to prevent as far as possible the perpctra-
ton Of olfcnses against person and property.
The head Of tho police of safety Is Counu
Puckler. The agents of safety wear ordinary
civil dress, and when they visit dangeroua
quarters carry q revolver. The latter privi4
lege has recently been granted TO them in con-
sequence Of some serious encounters with
armed criminals.
The possession of n revolver is calculated t0
give the agent greater degree Of assurance,
but he is strictly forbidden to use the weapon
except in the last extremity,
The district agents are specially charged
with the surveillance Of dealers in old clothes,
pawn brokers and all suspected persons hay-
ing a fixed doniicile. The town is divided for
the purposes Of this department OF the forces
into eight districts, each of which is under tho
direction Of q commissioner
The division Of labor, which Is so marked %
feature II tho Berlin police force, is carried
down 10 the dangerous element